The piece had been instigated after I witnessed the England pack concede a scrum penalty try to South Africa in Bloemfontein as they lost the second Test of their 2018 summer tour – and with it the series – after being blasted back over their own line.
It was such a rare occurrence during three decades of watching England scrums that it stood out like a warning beacon. The England props were Kyle Sinckler and Mako Vunipola, and their South African counterparts (fresh off the bench) were Thomas du Toit, now with Bath, and Steven Kitshoff.
The article also drew on the encyclopaedic scrummaging knowledge of Phil Keith-Roach, the scrum coach of the 2003 England World Cup-winning squad. With his customary laser-like focus, Keith-Roach said he found the lack of attention paid to the England scrum’s shortcomings against the Springboks alarming.
He commented: “It has a huge physical and mental effect on the game, whether it is now or at the World Cup, and it is frequently the difference between winning and losing. That is why the scrum is not a minor issue.”
His concern was magnified because what we had witnessed was a complete contradiction of the regularly repeated claims by Eddie Jones that he would restore England’s traditional scrum dominance.
We do not have to detail here the England scrum collapse in the first half of the 2019 World Cup final which led to their comprehensive defeat by South Africa. However, we should examine with utmost scrutiny why four years later England’s same scrum shortcomings were brutally exposed again by South Africa in their 2023 World Cup semi-final loss.
Bu hikaye The Rugby Paper dergisinin December 17, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Rugby Paper dergisinin December 17, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Unbeaten Lymm put the Tykes on a leash
LYMM maintained their unbeaten start to the campaign, taking the major scalp of Leeds Tykes and ending the visitors' unblemished start.
Dramatic late win boosts leaders
A LAST-minute converted try saw Tonbridge Juddians snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at Barnes.
England need to be more consistent
I WAS at last week's game against the All Blacks and as much as I enjoyed my first visit to the stadium since the Six Nations, I couldn't help noticing a different attitude of those in control of the stadium's notification system which puts out messages to the crowd.
Cuthbert: Wales have to deliver
ALEX Cuthbert says the pressure on Wales is huge ahead of their opening Autumn Nations Series game against Fiji today.
Anyanwu heads the list of star attractions
TOP 14 transfer speculation is always thoroughly entertaining, and this season has so far been no exception.
Goldthorp can challenge Kildunne for No.15 spot
LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning head coach Nathan Smith is backing Fran Goldthorp to compete with Ellie Kildunne, right, for England's No.15 jersey.
Four-try David calls the shots for Bears
MILLIE David helped Bristol blow Leicester away after scoring four of their 10 tries at Welford Road.
Scott-Young keen to follow his father
TYPICAL of most Australians, Scott-Young Angus has fairly sunny disposition and the loose forward is confident that Saints can soon start to turn things around on the road.
When value for money is not part of the deal
ENGLAND'S bench strategy against New Zealand - goodbye \"bomb squad\", hello \"squib squad\"-has been investigated, psychoanalysed, convicted on all charges and mercilessly sentenced by the entire rugby world and its maiden aunt, so there is no earthly point in returning to the scene of the crime.
'I want to prove my worth to Bath'
OUT-OF-FAVOUR winger RuBath aridh McConnochie is hoping to use the Premiership Cup to lay down a challenge to Johann van Graan and make his selection claims impossible to ignore.